Heat-dissipation unit and method of manufacturing same

ABSTRACT

A heat-dissipation unit includes a base and a plurality of radiating fins. The base has a plurality of grooves formed thereon, and each of the grooves has an open top and closed bottom. The radiating fins respectively have a heat-radiating zone and a bent zone. When a pressure is applied onto the bent zones, the bent zones respectively form an assembling section in the grooves to tightly fit therein. With the above arrangements, the radiating fins can be firmly locked to the base without the need of welding, so that the manufacturing cost is reduced and the problem of a damaged base due to assembling can be avoided. A method of manufacturing the above-described heat-dissipation unit is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heat-dissipation unit and a method ofmanufacturing same; and more particularly to a heat-dissipation unit anda method of manufacturing same that enables more firmly locking ofradiating fins to a base at reduced manufacturing cost without causingthe problem of a damaged base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An electronic element in an electronic device, such as, for example, acentral processing unit, usually produces a large amount of heat duringoperation thereof and accordingly has a raised temperature. In the casethe produced heat is not properly dissipated, it will cause overheat andunstable operation of the electronic element to result in stop or evencrash of the whole electronic device. Meanwhile, with the constantlyincreased operating speed of various kinds of electronic elements, theheat produced by them also largely increases. Thus, the heat sinkemployed in the electronic device for dissipating the produced heatbecomes more and more important.

Conventional heat sinks can be classified into two major types, namely,an integrally formed heat sink and an assembled heat sink formed from aplurality of stacked radiating fins. The radiating fins are bent atrespective one edge to form connecting sections, which are welded to abase so that the radiating fins are connected to the base to form theheat sink. The welding of the radiating fins to the base results incomplicated assembling procedures and does not meet the currentrequirement for environmental protection. Therefore, there weremanufacturers who provide an insertion-type heat sink by inserting theradiating fins onto the base. The conventional insertion-type heat sink1 usually includes a base 10 and a plurality of radiating fins 11. Thebase 10 is formed on one face with a plurality of grooves 101, intowhich the radiating fins 11 are inserted. According to the currentlyavailable technical skills, there are generally two ways for fixedlyconnecting the radiating fins 11 to the base 10. As shown in FIG. 1A,the first way is to directly weld the radiating fins 11 to the base 10,and in this way the welding will result in increased manufacturing cost.The second way is shown in FIG. 1B, in which the connecting sections 111of the radiating fins 11 are first loosely fitted in the grooves 101formed on the base 10, and then a tool 12 is used to punch against areason the base between any two adjacent grooves 101, such that open tops ofthe grooves 101 are deformed to clamp on the connecting sections 111 ofthe radiating fins 11 in a tight-fit manner, as shown in FIG. 1C.However, while the deformed open tops of the grooves 101 clamp on theconnecting sections 111 of the radiating fins 11 in a tight-fit manner,all other portions of the connecting sections 111 below the deformedopen tops of the grooves 101 are still inserted in the grooves 101 inthe loose-fit manner. Therefore, the connection of the radiating fins 11to the base 10 in the second way tends to cause thermal resistance andeasy separation of the radiating fins 11 from the grooves 101.

Accordingly, the conventional heat-dissipation units have the followingdisadvantages: (1) requiring increased manufacturing cost; (2) tendingto have a deformed base; and (3) having a relatively unstable structure.

It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop an improvedheat-dissipation unit and a method of manufacturing same, so as toovercome the problems in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide aheat-dissipation unit that has radiating fins firmly locked to a baseand can be manufactured at reduced cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat-dissipationunit that avoids the problem of a deformed base thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide aheat-dissipation unit manufacturing method, which enables a plurality ofradiating fins to firmly lock to a base to form a heat-dissipation unitat reduced manufacturing cost.

To achieve the above and other objects, the heat-dissipation unitprovided according to the present invention includes a base and aplurality of radiating fins. The base has a plurality of grooves formedthereon, and each of the grooves has an open top and a closed bottom.The radiating fins respectively have a heat-radiating zone and a bentzone being pressed to form an assembling section. The bent zones areperpendicular to the heat-radiating zones and are positioned on the opentops of the grooves with the assembling sections correspondingly fittedin the grooves.

To achieve the above and other objects, the heat-dissipation unitmanufacturing method according to the present invention includes thefollowing steps:

providing a base having a plurality of grooves formed on a top thereof,and each of the grooves having an open top and a closed bottom;providing a plurality of radiating fins, each of which having aheat-radiating zone and a bent zone perpendicular to the heat-radiatingzone; and flatly positioning the bent zones on the open tops of thegrooves; andapplying a pressure onto the bent zones, so that the bent zonesrespectively form an assembling section in the grooves to tightly fittherein, bringing the radiating fins to lock to the base.

With the heat-dissipation unit manufacturing method of the presentinvention, the bent zones are pressed to respectively form an assemblingsection for correspondingly tightly fitting in the grooves, allowing theradiating fins to be stably and firmly lock to the base. In addition,the cost of welding the radiating fins to the base as required in theconventional heat-dissipation unit is saved and the problem of adeformed base can be avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present inventionto achieve the above and other objects can be best understood byreferring to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1A is a sectional view showing the forming of a first conventionalheat-dissipation unit;

FIGS. 1B and 1C are sectional views showing the forming of a secondconventional heat-dissipation unit;

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of a heat-dissipation unitaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is an assembled view of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of a heat-dissipation unitaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of a heat-dissipation unitaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is an illustrative view showing the steps included in a firstembodiment of a heat-dissipation unit manufacturing method according tothe present invention;

FIG. 5B is a flowchart showing the steps included in the firstembodiment of the heat-dissipation unit manufacturing method accordingto the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the steps included in a second embodimentof the heat-dissipation unit manufacturing method according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with some preferredembodiments thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Forthe purpose of easy to understand, elements that are the same in thepreferred embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Please refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B that are exploded and assembledperspective views, respectively, of a heat-dissipation unit 2 accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, theheat-dissipation unit 2 includes a base 20 and a plurality of radiatingfins 21. The base 20 is formed on a top with a plurality of grooves 201,each of which has an open top 2011, a closed bottom 2012, a firstlateral side 2013, and a second lateral side 2014. The first and secondlateral sides 2013, 2014 are separately raised from two opposite lateraledges of the closed bottom 2012.

Each of the radiating fins 21 includes a heat-radiating zone 211 and abent zone 212. The bent zone 212 is perpendicular to the heat-radiatingzone 211 and forms an assembling section 2122. To assemble the radiatingfins 21 to the base 20, the bent zones 212 are positioned correspondingto the open tops 2011 of the grooves 201 and the assembling sections2122 are correspondingly tightly fitted in the grooves 201.

As can be seen from FIG. 2B, with the structural design of theheat-dissipation unit 2 according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention, the assembling sections 2122 are tightly fitted in thegrooves 201 for the radiating fins 21 to stably and firmly position inplace on the base 20. Further, the cost of welding the radiating fins tothe base as required in the conventional heat-dissipation unit can beomitted, and the problem of a deformed and damaged base can be avoided.

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of a heat-dissipation unit 2according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Please referto FIG. 3 along with FIG. 2A. As shown, the heat-dissipation unit 2 inthe second embodiment is generally structurally similar to the firstembodiment, except that, in the second embodiment, each of the grooves201 has at least one inward and downward inclined zone 2015, which canbe formed on the first lateral side 2013 or the second lateral side2014. In the illustrated second embodiment, the inclined zone 2015 isformed on the first lateral side 2013 without being limited thereto.That is, the inclined zone 2015 can be otherwise formed on the secondlateral side 2014. The inclined zone 2015 formed on the first lateralside 2014 is inclined toward the second lateral side 2014, and theassembling section 2122 is bent in a manner for correspondingly andfitly bearing on the inclined zone 2015 in the groove 201. With theassembling section 2122 fitly bearing on the inclined zone 2015, theclosed bottom 2012, and the first lateral side 2013 or the secondlateral side 2014, each of the radiating fins 21 can be similarly firmlyassembled to the base 20.

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of a heat-dissipation unit 2according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown, theheat-dissipation unit 2 in the third embodiment is generallystructurally similar to the previous embodiments, except that, in thethird embodiment, each of the grooves 201 has at least one inward anddownward inclined zone 2015 formed on a part of the first lateral side2013 or the second lateral side 2014. In the illustrated thirdembodiment, the inclined zone 2015 is formed on a part of the firstlateral side 2013 without being limited thereto. That is, the inclinedzone 2015 may be otherwise formed on a part of the second lateral side2014. With the assembling section 2122 fitly bearing on the inclinedzone 2015, the closed bottom 2012, and the first lateral side 2013 andthe second lateral side 2014, each of the radiating fins 21 can besimilarly firmly assembled to the base 20.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are an illustrative view and a flowchart, respectively,showing the steps S1, S2 and S3 included in a first embodiment of aheat-dissipation unit manufacturing method according to the presentinvention.

In the step S1, a base having a plurality of grooves formed thereon isprovided; and each of the grooves has an open top and a closed bottom.

More specifically, a base 20 having a plurality of grooves 201 formedthereon is provided, and each of the grooves 201 has an open top 2011and a closed bottom 2012.

In the step S2, a plurality of radiating fins are provided, and each ofwhich includes a heat-radiating zone and a bent zone perpendicular tothe heat-radiating zone; and the bent zones are flatly positioned on theopen tops of the grooves.

More specifically, a plurality of radiating fins 21 are provided, andeach of which includes a heat-radiating zone 211 and a bent zone 212perpendicular to the heat-radiating zone 211; and the bent zones 212 areflatly positioned on the open tops 2011 of the grooves 201.

In the step S3, a pressure is applied onto all the bent zones, so thatthe bent zones respectively form an assembling section in the grooves totightly fit therein, so that the radiating fins are locked to the base.

More specifically, a pressure is applied onto all the bent zones 212, sothat the bent zones 212 respectively form an assembling section 2122 inthe grooves 201 to tightly fit therein, so that the radiating fins 21are locked to the base 20.

The bent zones 212 are pressed to form the assembling sections 2122 viamechanical process. In the illustrated embodiment, the mechanicalprocess is stamping without being limited thereto.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the steps S1 to S4 included in a secondembodiment of the heat-dissipation unit manufacturing method accordingto the present invention.

In the step S1, a base having a plurality of grooves formed thereon isprovided; and each of the grooves has an open top and a closed bottom.

In the step S2, a plurality of radiating fins are provided, and each ofwhich includes a heat-radiating zone and a bent zone perpendicular tothe heat-radiating zone; and the bent zones are flatly positioned on theopen tops of the grooves.

In the step S3, a pressure is applied onto all the bent zones, so thatthe bent zones respectively form an assembling section in the grooves totightly fit therein.

While the second embodiment of the heat-dissipation unit manufacturingmethod includes steps S1 to S3 the same as those in the firstembodiment, the second embodiment further includes a step S4 after thestep S3.

In the step S4, a pressure is further applied onto the assemblingsections for the same to fitly bear on inclined zones separately formedin the grooves, so that the radiating fins are locked to the base.

More specifically, a pressure is further applied onto the assemblingsections 2122 for the same to fitly bear on inclined zones 2015separately formed in the grooves 201, so that the radiating fins 21 arefirmly locked to the base 20.

With the heat-dissipation unit manufacturing method of the presentinvention, the bent zones 212 are pressed by way of stamping torespectively form an assembling section 2122 for correspondingly tightlyfitting in the grooves 201, allowing the radiating fins 21 to be stablyand firmly locked to the base 20. In addition, the cost of welding theradiating fins to the base as required in the conventionalheat-dissipation units is saved and the problem of a deformed or damagedbase can be avoided.

In brief, the present invention is superior to the prior art due to thefollowing advantages: (1) providing more stable and firmer structure;(2) requiring only reduced manufacturing cost; and (3) avoiding theproblem of a deformed base.

The present invention has been described with some preferred embodimentsthereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in thedescribed embodiments can be carried out without departing from thescope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limitedonly by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat-dissipation unit, comprising: a basehaving a plurality of grooves formed thereon, and each of the grooveshaving an open top and a closed bottom; and a plurality of radiatingfins, each of which including a heat-radiating zone and a bent zoneperpendicular to the heat-radiating zone and forming an assemblingsection; the bent zones being correspondingly positioned on the opentops of the grooves, and the assembling sections being correspondinglytightly fitted in the grooves.
 2. The heat-dissipation unit as claimedin claim 1, wherein each of the grooves further has a first lateral sideand a second lateral side correspondingly raised from two oppositelateral edges of the closed bottom.
 3. The heat-dissipation unit asclaimed in claim 2, wherein each of the grooves further has at least oneinward and downward inclined zone.
 4. The heat-dissipation unit asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the inclined zone is formed on at least oneof the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the groove. 5.A method of manufacturing heat-dissipation unit, comprising the stepsof: providing a base having a plurality of grooves formed thereon, andeach of the grooves having an open top and a closed bottom; providing aplurality of radiating fins, each of which having a heat-radiating zoneand a bent zone perpendicular to the heat-radiating zone, and flatlypositioning the bent zones on the open tops of the grooves; and applyinga pressure onto the bent zones, so that the bent zones respectively forman assembling section in the grooves to tightly fit therein, bringingthe radiating fins to lock to the base.
 6. The heat-dissipation unitmanufacturing method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the assemblingsections are tightly fitted in the grooves through mechanical process.7. The heat-dissipation unit manufacturing method as claimed in claim 6,wherein the mechanical process is stamping.
 8. The heat-dissipation unitmanufacturing method as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the groovesfurther has a first lateral side and a second lateral side, which beingcorrespondingly raised from two lateral edges of the closed bottom ofthe groove.
 9. The heat-dissipation unit manufacturing method as claimedin claim 8, wherein each of the grooves further has at least one inwardand downward inclined zone.
 10. The heat-dissipation unit manufacturingmethod as claimed in claim 9, wherein the inclined zone is formed on atleast one of the first lateral side and the second lateral side of thegroove.
 11. The heat-dissipation unit manufacturing method as claimed inclaim 10, further comprising a step after the step of forming theassembling sections to further apply a pressure onto the assemblingsections for the same to fitly bear on the inclined zones, so that theradiating fins are firmly locked to the base.